Makeover Monday: Nutella Swirl Baked Doughnuts

Nutella lovers, I have treat for you!  I imagine that at this point, the only people in America who don't love Nutella are the people who haven't tried it yet.  I first had Nutella in college.  My husband went on a trip to Germany and returned with a jar of the delicious spread.  I guess it took Europe by storm before making its big splash in the States.  I was a little leery of trying trying it at first (hazelnut??) but I did.  And it was love at first bite.

For whatever reason, I don't seem to have Nutella around  much.  Perhaps it is because I would probably be constantly dipping my fingers in the jar if I did.  But whenever I come across recipes that include Nutella, I am quick to save them.  And I have plenty of them!  I have been waiting for quite a while to make the Nutella swirl doughnuts.  Fortunately, I finally got around to trying it.  I knew when I saw the recipe that if I was going to splurge on Nutella that I would have to make this a "makeover" recipe.  And that's exactly what I did.  But trust me, these don't taste like a makeover recipe!

Makeover Monday: Skinny Corn Dip

 With football season in full swing, I find myself spending an ever increasing amount of time on the couch.  And watching football.  And eating.  And, perhaps, enjoying an ice cold Bud Light.  Life is good.  Somehow a football game is made exponentially better with the addition of junk food and beer.  I can't explain it.  It's just a law of nature.  And I would never argue with science.

But after a few full weekends of football, I sometimes find that my jeans are feeling inexplicably tight.  Could it be the sitting on my butt and stuffing my face?  Perhaps.  So every now and then I have to swap the junk food for something lighter.  But I still want the pleasure of my traditional football watching food.  Enter this delicious, satisfying, and made-over skinny corn dip.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Butterscotch Chip Cookie Dough Bites

It is still summer.  Therefore, I still am boycotting my oven.  And, I am trying to eat a little healthier.  And I still have a sweet tooth.  Fortunately, I have found an awesome recipe that meets all my needs, especially my need for delicious!

This is one of those Pinterest posts I pinned thinking I might make it "some day."  It had peanut butter, oatmeal, and butterscotch chips, and is eaten in it's delicious cookie dough form.  And it doesn't have any butter or white sugar.  I had to pin that!  When it started getting hot outside, my "some day" finally came.  So I tried it out, and it was absolutely delicious!

Makeover Monday: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Can you satisfy your sweet tooth and still fit into a bikini?  Maybe so.  If you are on Pinterest, you probably have seen this peanut butter oatmeal cookies floating around.  I have seen them pinned about a million times in various forms.  And it's easy to see why.  The description of the pin always says something like "no flour, no oil, no eggs, and no added sugar."  That's pretty tempting in a delicious looking cookie.

So can you really have it all in one cookie?  After seeing this pin several times, I finally decided to give it a go.  I wasn't too surprised to see the ingredient list.  Filling in for granulated sugar was a mashed banana, applesauce was in for the fat and eggs, and oats were taking the place of flour.  Oh, and there was peanut butter and chocolate chips.  But I think those are just in the recipe because they're delicious.  Minor detail.

Makeover Monday: Skinny Strawberry Poke Cake

I have another yummy, lightened up treat for you today!  Much like my blueberry cheesecake bars from last week, this strawberry poke cake features tempting seasonal fruit, and is great eaten out of the refrigerator for a refreshing hot-weather treat.  And I made a few changes to make it less of a guilty pleasure.  Let's just call it a pleasure.

When I say that this cake features strawberries, I really mean that it is bursting with strawberries.  I started with a strawberry cake mix, added strawberry gelatin, and even topped it with strawberries.  Strawberry lovers, rejoice!  This great cake is easy, delicious, and low cal!  If you have never had poke cake, you need to make this.  To make it, you poke holes in a baked cake, pour prepared gelatin over it, and top it with pudding and whipped cream.  It is super moist and refreshing, and very easy!

Makeover Monday: Pancake Squares

It doesn't take much time browsing my blog to figure out that I like love pancakes.  They are one of my favorite weekend breakfast dishes and I enjoy trying different varieties and exploring all the fun things you can add to a plain ole pancake.  But despite all the kinds of pancakes I have made, such as oatmeal cinnamon roll, pumpkin, strawberry poppy seed, and even sweet potato to name just a few, I have never even thought about changing the way I make pancakes.  That changed about two weeks ago.

That was when I saw a pin on Pinterest for these pancake squares.  This is basically just regular pancake batter, but instead of pouring individual pancakes on a skillet and watching, waiting, flipping, watching, waiting, and repeating over and over, all you do is pour the batter into a baking dish and bake it.  Then you cut it, eat it, and love it.  One look at that pin, and my mind was blown!  Why did I not think of that?

Makeover Monday: Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies

I didn't eat a lot of store-bought goodies growing up.  I guess I've always been more of a homemade kind of girl.  When I was a kid though, I used to go to my grandma's house after school until my mom got off work.  Like all good grandmas, mine kept lots, and lots, and lots, of snacks on hand.  Looking back on it, it is a wonder that I wasn't obese as a child!  I have many fond memories of delicious treats at my grandma's house, and one of my favorites was Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pies.

But, the doctors keep telling me that I'm done growing, so I guess childhood is over.  And I haven't had an oatmeal creme pie since I was knee high to a grasshopper.  So when I saw a recipe on the internet for homemade oatmeal creme pies, I knew I had found something special.  I love the idea of taking store-bought favorites and making them myself.  

When I finally got around to making these yummy treats, I decided that I would try my hand at making these a little easier on the waistline.  I made a few simple swaps to help me feel less guilty about devouring them, which I knew I would do as soon as they were made.  Which I did.  Hey, they were delicious!  

Makeover Monday: Skinny Maple Gingerbread Latte

First things first today; Merry Christmas to everyone!  I hope you all are enjoying some relaxing time with friends and family.  And with that, let's get to the main event here.  While you are spending time with said family and friends, I am sure that a warm, cozy, delicious beverage would help make the season merry and bright.  Perhaps something like what you would get from Starbucks?  

I know you have heard the horror stories of coffees from Starbucks that pack more calories than a cheeseburger.  With all the holiday eating going on, I definitely don't want to spend a lot my precious calories on a drink.  That's what cookies are for.  Also, the holidays can do a number on the old wallet.  So if you don't feel like shelling out $4.00 for a 400 calorie drink, check out this yummy, light, cheap, and easy to make skinny maple gingerbread latte.  Consider it my Christmas gift to you.

Makeover Monday: Pumpkin Apple Muffins

I know that Thanksgiving is over and everyone is already over turkey and pumpkin, and is consumed with the Christmas season.  Well, tough.  The calendar says it is still November, so I reserve the right to post fall recipes.

I can't say for sure, but I imagine that pumpkin and apple have a bit of a rivalry going.  They are both classic fall flavors.  I have to think that apple nation feels slighted every time someone bakes a pumpkin pie, and pumpkins every where suffer from a bruised ego with every apple crisp enjoyed hot out of the oven.  But I am here today to bring these two together.  Pumpkin and apple can finally be friends with these delicious, satisfying, and made-over pumpkin apple muffins!

Makeover Monday: Butter Pecan Waffles

I love butter pecan.  I love waffles.  I love maple syrup.  It really was only a matter of time before I put it all together for a breakfast I would absolutely adore.  I just can't believe it has taken me this long!  Butter pecan is one of my favorite ice cream flavors.  And I can only imagine what butter pecan ice cream would be like with the addition of maple flavor.  The combination was just meant to be!

When I found a recipe for butter pecan waffles, I knew I had to make it.  Finally, I could add maple to butter pecan in a socially acceptable manor.  And not only could I combine some of my favorite flavors, but I could adapt it to be healthier.  Because let's face it, no matter how delicious butter pecan ice cream drenched in maple syrup would be, it isn't exactly waistline friendly!

Makeover Monday: Double Peanut Butter Paisley Brownies

Everyone knows I think peanut butter and chocolate are the bee's knees.  The only thing better than peanut butter and chocolate is double peanut butter and chocolate.  Yum!  I had a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips that I bought for the heck of it just lying around my pantry.  I considered just tossing them into a batch of chocolate cookies (like I did with the Reese's Pieces in my Chocolate Reese's Pieces  Cookies).  Then I noticed a recipe for double peanut butter paisley brownies.  That changed my plans!

I had to make these.  But I had to make these my way.  And by my way, I mean with less fat, less sugar, and more fiber.  While these were lacking in calories, they were not lacking in taste!  These were super yummy, and as peanut butter-y as promised in the title!

Makeover Monday: Cinnamon Roll Waffles

Do you ever watch infomercials and think, "Yeah, that will work when pigs fly?"  I love the ridiculousness of them and truly appreciate the cheesy lines and bad acting.  Last weekend I made an infomercial-worthy breakfast.  If I were to write an infomercial for these unbelievabley amazing cinnamon roll waffles it would read something like this:

"Want to make an amazing homemade breakfast that will wow all of your family and friends this holiday season and make you the talk of the town?  Then try the new, unbelievable, cinnamon roll waffle.  Regular waffles are okay, but they are loaded with refined flour and oil (insert image of supermodel looking disgustedly at a pile of overly greasy waffles).  Cinnamon rolls are delicious, but they take hours to make and don't always turn out.  Who has time for that?  (insert image of exasperated-looking woman, covered in flour, rolling out dough).  Introducing the whole grain, low fat, perfect solution to your breakfast problem--the cinnamon roll waffles.  Now you can enjoy the cinnamon roll taste everyone loves, in an easy to make, healthy waffle."

Apple Pie Cake with Butter Rum Sauce (and Cinnamon Candied Pecan Homemade Ice Cream!)

 It's apple time!  I can't get enough apples this time of year.  I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  And as a snack.  And I could wash it all down with a gallon of apple cider.  That oughtta keep the doctor away!  But, I do actually eat other things, even in the fall.  Because I have approximately 1 million apple recipes, I have to do a little picking and choosing.  It's so hard to decide what to make sometimes!

Apple pie is one of my favorite all-time desserts.  But I'm also pretty fond of spice cakes.  Fortunately, I have this great apple pie cake recipe that brings these two great treats together.  I love it when I don't have to choose!  This is really easy to make, and just tastes like fall!  And as if that wasn't enough, I topped it off with an outrageously delicious butter rum sauce, and served it with homemade cinnamon candied pecan ice cream.  This dessert is heaven you can eat!

Makeover Monday: Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Muffins

Fall is officially upon us, and I am about to get my bake on.  Images of pumpkin and apple are already dancing through my mind.  But before I get to that, I have to share this peanut butter muffin recipe.  Muffins are a great way to start off a chilly fall morning, or a great treat to end the day while snuggled up in a warm blanket.  Cozy!

Unfortunately, many muffins are just cupcakes in disguise.  I prefer to eat muffin tops that won't give me a muffin top.  These peanut butter muffins provide plenty of nutrition, and plenty of taste.  I don't think I've ever had anything with peanut butter that I didn't love.  I mean, it's peanut butter.  It has to be yummy!  These hearty muffins are no exception.

Makeover Monday: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Scones

As the numbers on the calendars get higher and higher, the numbers on the thermometer are getting smaller and smaller.  Thank goodness!  And with that, my baking strike is officially over.  It is still pretty warm some afternoons, but the mornings have been nice and cool.  It's the perfect weather for some morning baking!

I've made scones a few times, and have always loved them.  But scones are one of those delicious breakfast foods that can be calorie stealth bombs and end up having as much fat and sugar as a dessert.  Case in point, my sinful white chocolate chip scones with peppermint glaze.  While I am all for the occasional a.m. splurge, I appreciate having some healthier breakfast options in my arsenal as well.  And this past Saturday, I was feeling like a good girl so I whipped up a batch of these whole wheat cinnamon raisin scones.  These are still sweet and satisfying, but I tried something unheard of in a scone recipe to give them a healthy twist.  And it worked!  Go me! 

Makeover Monday: Black Cherry Salad

For those of you who don't know me personally, I recently started a new chapter of my career as the food service director for my old high school and elementary school.  I never dreamed when I was eating school lunches at Beloit High School that I would one day be planning said meals, but I am!  And as someone who loves food, I am totally loving this career move!

One of the best things about my new job is that I get a free lunch every day.  And despite what the kiddos might say, I think our meals are awesome!  Unfortunately, they might be too awesome.  I have found myself perhaps eating a tad too much on occasion.  Okay, practically every day!  So to make up for my overindulgence during the day, I have been cutting back in the evening, especially with dessert.  My only problem is that I have a serious sweet tooth.  

So to satisfy my sweet tooth I turned to this delicious black cherry salad.  I tweaked it slightly to cut out some calories so I could feel even less guilty about my yummy lunches.  It totally hit the spot!  You might have noticed by my lack of posts for a while that I have been a little busy since school has started.  Another bonus of this "dessert" is that it took almost no time to make.  Perfect!

Makeover Monday: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

As it continues to be 100 degrees or more outside every day, my oven continues to be on strike.  And in this time, no bake pies are becoming a good friend of mine.  Not just the kind of friend that you add on Facebook and tolerate obnoxious status updates from.  I'm talking about the kind of friend that takes you out to dinner just because and calls you on your birthday.  I am tight with these summer-friendly pies!  They are very versatile, easy, quick, and most importantly, delicious.  


And my latest no-bake pie creation also has the distinction of being low in fat and sugar.  I would like to introduce you to my new BFF, chocolate peanut butter pie.  Who wouldn't want to befriend a pie with chocolate pudding over a chocolate graham cracker crust and a light peanut buttery cheese cake-ish topping, garnished with peanuts and chocolate syrup?  

Makeover Monday: Stovetop Guacamole Mac & Cheese

This isn't my first makeover mac & cheese recipe.  Back in February I shared my recipe for secret ingredient baked mac & cheese, which substituted pumpkin for part of the cheese sauce.  I have made this sneaky dish several times, and it has been quickly devoured each time.  But now it's time for something a little more seasonally appropriate.  As much as I love mac & cheese, I'm not about to turn on the oven just to make a batch when it's 100 degrees outside.  Stovetop recipes to the rescue! 

Avocados are in season right now, which means they are on sale.  I really try, but I just can't keep myself from buying them by the bagful.  They are just so good!  And while I love guacamole and tortillas chips, after a while I was ready to try something else with my avocadoes.  Then I remembered that I had saved this recipe for stovetop guacamole mac & cheese.  This recipe uses guacamole for part of its creaminess, and a pepperjack cheese sauce for the rest.  And it is easily prepared on the stove.  It was the solution to all my problems!

Makeover Monday: Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

I guess I'm on a breakfast makeover kick.  I would appologize, but I'm not sorry.  Keep in mind that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  After several weeks in a row of weekend travel, my husband and I finally had a weekend were we didn't go anywhere!  I intended to take full advantage of it by making an awesome weekend breakfast.  And as usual, I didn't want my yummy breakfast to start my day in a huge calorie hole. 

I bought a loaf of French bread a while ago and only used about half of it.  I wouldn't dare waste good bread so I have been saving it in my refrigerator for the right time to use it.  Even though I have never posted any French toast recipes before, I do make it on occassion.  It's just that I always use my whole wheat sandwich bread and I don't really follow any kind of recipe.  I just kind of throw it together.  I love how easy my typical French toast is to make, but I never really thought it was worth sharing. 

When I told my husband not to eat the French bread in the fridge because I was going to use it for French toast, he thought it sounded like a terrible idea.  I had to explain to him that French bread is actually perfect for making French toast.  He didn't believe me.  At that point my mission was clear.  I had to transform my lowly old loaf of French bread into a gourmet breakfast that would convince my husband that I actually know what I'm talking about.  And not to toot my own horn, but I succeeded!

Makeover Monday: Mulberry Pancakes

Last week I shared my recipe for sugar-free mulberry syrup.  I made it several weeks ago, but hadn't been able to actually enjoy it on a hot stack of pancakes because my husband and I have been traveling every weekend.  Although we traveled this weekend for an out of town wedding, we were at least able to spend some time at home Saturday morning.  Finally!  And Saturday mornings mean Saturday morning breakfast. 

I was super excited to try out my mulberry syrup and wanted the perfect pancake accompaniment.  In case you haven't checked out the syrup recipe yet (shame on you if you haven't!) in the process you simmer the mulberries in water until they are soft and then mash them.  When I have made this syrup in the past I threw the resulting mulberry pulp away.  I hated doing that.  It seemed like such a waste of one of my favorite summer treats.  This time I saved the pulp.  I knew I could use it somehow.   And then I realized that the perfect pancakes for my mulberry syrup would be mulberry pancakes.  Turns out mulberry pancakes + mulberry syrup = summer breakfast bliss.  That's math I would go to summer school for!